Tuesday, March 01, 2016

Book Review: Pieces Like Pottery (Dan Buri)

Pieces Like Pottery

By: Dan Buri

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

Having spent time at #1 on multiple bestseller lists, the first collection of short fiction from Dan Buri, Pieces Like Pottery, announces the arrival of a new American author. In this distinct selection of stories marked by struggle and compassion, Pieces Like Pottery is a powerful examination of the sorrows of life, the strength of character, the steadfast of courage, and the resiliency of love requisite to find redemption.Filled with graceful insight into the human condition, each linked story presents a tale of loss and love. In Expect Dragons, James Hinri learns that his old high school teacher is dying. Wanting to tell Mr. Smith one last time how much his teaching impacted him, James drives across the country revisiting past encounters with his father's rejection and the pain of his youth. Disillusioned and losing hope, little did James know that Mr. Smith had one final lesson for him. In The Gravesite, Lisa and Mike's marriage hangs in the balance after the disappearance of their only son while backpacking in Thailand. Mike thinks the authorities are right—that Chris fell to his death in a hiking accident—but Lisa has her doubts. Her son was too strong to die this young, and no one can explain to her why new posts continue to appear on her son's blog. Twenty-Two looks in on the lives of a dock worker suffering from the guilt of a life not lived and a bartender making the best of each day, even though he can see clearly how his life should have been different. The two find their worlds collide when a past tragedy shockingly connects them. A collection of nine stories, each exquisitely written and charged with merciful insight into the trials of life, Pieces Like Pottery reminds us of the sorrows we all encounter in life and the kindness we receive, oftentimes from the unlikeliest of places.

*We were given an electronic version of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Now, let me start off by saying that I'm not one who is very 'into' short stories, especially those that are sad and dark. I've always kind of associated short stories to children's books, or being very emotionless. Now, I can say my outlook has greatly changed as I've been reading/reviewing all of the author requested short stories that've been sent in.

While my opinion of short stories HAS changed, I've formed a new opinion, and I'd like to share it with you guys; I feel like when you take a bunch of short stories and stick them together that some (maybe all) of those stories kind of lose some of the emotion that readers crave. The loss represented in those stories doesn't quite touch you the same way because you turn the page and *BAM!* new story!

With that being said, it doesn't take away from Dan Buri's elegant writing style and the weight that his stories hold. Personally, the first one is still getting to me; I even told mom all about it while I had her stuck in the car.

The Gravesite was one that you're so focused on that you don't even know whether or not you're breathing, and when you're finished you sit your book/kindle/phone down and just hold your heart because you feel the loss of the characters as if it were your own.
The eight others hold a similar weight. They're for sure not feel-good reads, but I don't think they were ever meant to be. You really won't regret reading, even if it's just one of the stories,when you're in between books; it's worth it.

Dan Buri, you sir, you have a gift. Keep on writing.

As almost-always, all the links are below.
Keep your noses in the pages! I'll blog you later, my lovelies!